Agriculture: Subsidies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For each of the past three years, how many appeals to the Independent Appeals System for agriculture subsidy schemes have been (a) rejected; and (b) upheld or approved; and, of those which were upheld or approved by the Independent Appeals System, how many were subsequently rejected by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Lord Rooker: For ease of reference the figures have been presented in the table below. It should be noted, however, that the department does not reject the recommendations made by the independent panel. The final decision as to whether the panel's recommendation is rejected or accepted rests with the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development.
	
		
			 Calendar year Rejected by Panel Upheld/Approved by Panel Subsequently rejected by the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development 
			 2003 28 9 3 (i) 
			 2004 5 4 0 
			 2005 (ii) 69 61 18 (iii) 
			 2006 (up to 6 March) 6 0 0 
		
	
	(i) includes one case where the panel's recommendation was accepted in part.
	(ii) increase in number of appeals as a result of the single farm payment and in particular, the hardship provisions.
	(iii) includes four cases where the panel's recommendation was accepted in part.

Armed Forces: Accommodation

Lord Garden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures they are taking to meet their undertaking to improve service accommodation in the light of the Secretary of State for Defence's evidence to the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (Cm 6740, paragraph 5.8) in which he indicated that accommodation was in a "worse position than anything else" within the welfare package and was "way behind" where it should be.

Lord Drayson: Steady progress is being made to improve all long-term service family accommodation core stock in Great Britain. In the financial year 2004–05 against a target of 500, some 2,610 properties were upgraded. In the financial year 2005–06 against a target of 600, some 1,391 properties are forecast to be upgraded. In the following three financial years, 2006–07 to 2008–09, the target is to upgrade 900 properties each year.
	In March 2001, the then Secretary of State for Defence announced additional funding over the next 10 years for raising the standard of single living accommodation. This requirement is being delivered in part by the single living accommodation modernisation (SLAM) project, which aims to deliver around 22,000 bed spaces by 2013. The overall value of the programme is expected to exceed £l billion.

Armed Forces: Future Aircraft Carriers

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the design of the future aircraft carriers will enable the V22 Osprey airborne early warning aircraft to fly from them.

Lord Drayson: The future aircraft carriers will be able to operate a range of fixed and rotary wing platforms, including the US Marine Corps variant of the V22 Osprey. There is currently no airborne early warning variant of the V22 Osprey.

Armed Forces: Recruitment Age

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Drayson on 9 January (WA 3), what assessment is made of the best interests of the child when recruiting individuals under 18 to the Armed Forces.

Lord Drayson: The recruiting process is designed to protect the interests of the applicant at every stage. The process is the same for applicants under age 18 and those over 18, except for the mandatory written consents of parents/guardians at the application and attestation stages for under-18s. Extensive screening is carried out of the suitability for service of all applicants regardless of age.

Armed Forces: Rest and Recuperation Leave

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the rest and recuperation leave entitlement for members of the Army serving on six-month and nine-month deployments in operations such as those in Iraq and Afghanistan commencing on (a) 1 January 2005; (b) 1 June 2005; (c) 1 January 2006; (d) 1 June 2006; and (e) 1 January 2007.

Lord Drayson: Depending on the exigencies of service, the operational chain of command will authorise the time, location and duration of any period of rest and recuperation (R&R) basing its decisions on published guidelines. As at 1 January 2005, Army personnel serving in locations such as Iraq or Afghanistan may receive a maximum period of 14 days R&R for a six-month deployment and two periods of R&R, each of a maximum of 14 days, for a nine-month deployment. We keep these arrangements under review.

Armed Forces: Sea King

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Royal Navy Sea King Mk2 airborne early warning helicopters are likely to be decommissioned.

Lord Drayson: The Sea King Mk2 airborne early warning helicopters are no longer in service, having all been upgraded to the new Sea King Mk7 airborne surveillance and control (ASaC) since the end of 2002.
	The Sea King Mk7 ASaC helicopters are currently scheduled to remain in Royal Naval service into the latter half of the next decade, when it is planned to replace them with a maritime surveillance component capability designed to support the force protection of the future carrier and joint combat aircraft.

Aviation Health: Contaminated Air

Lord Tyler: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of mandatory occurrence reports submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority relating to contaminated air are investigated by the Air Accident Investigation Branch.

Lord Davies of Oldham: In the past 10 years, the total number of contaminated air incidents recorded on the Civil Aviation Authority database was 347. The number of these investigated by Air Accident Investigation Branch was 23. This equates to approximately 7 per cent of the total.

Banking: Currency Exchange

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will hold early discussions with United Kingdom-based clearing banks regarding charges to bank customers in exchange transactions between sterling and the euro, especially for small amounts.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The charges levied by banks to exchange currency are a commercial matter. Customers are able to choose from a wide range of providers of currency exchange services and the Government would encourage them to shop around for the best deal.

Belarus

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they will take, in conjunction with the Austrian presidency of the European Union, to persuade Belarus to comply with the official European Union request for free and fair elections in March.

Lord Triesman: The Government, in concert with the presidency, continue to press the issue of free and fair elections with the Belarusian authorities on a regular basis, including through their embassy in Minsk. They also work through diplomatic channels to ensure that an equally strong and consistent message is delivered by partners both locally and in Brussels. The UK will provide 10 per cent. of all short and long-term observers for the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights election mission.

Bethlehem

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they propose to respond to the Mayor of Bethlehem following his appeal to world leaders on the need to protect the rights of the town.

Lord Triesman: Bethlehem is of unique religious and cultural significance to Christians. We remain concerned about the current route of the barrier around Bethlehem. Israel has a right to protect its citizens from terrorist attack, but the routing of the barrier on occupied territory is contrary to international law. We have made clear our concerns on the routing of the barrier beyond the green line to the Israeli Government at all levels, and will continue to do so.

British Coal Compensation: Solicitors

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will oblige solicitors who double-charged miners and their widows in the British Coal compensation litigation to make repayment; and whether they will ensure that the Law Society takes disciplinary action against the solicitors involved; and
	How many solicitors have been referred by the Law Society to the Disciplinary Tribunal and been struck off the roll of solicitors or had other disciplinary action taken against them for professional misconduct arising from double-charging and other unprofessional activities in the British Coal miners' litigation.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The legal profession is independent and self-regulating. Therefore, the conduct of solicitors who have represented clients claiming under the Department of Trade and Industry Coal Health Compensation Schemes is the responsibility of the Law Society.
	On 28 February the chairs of the Law Society's Regulation Board and Consumer Complaints Board issued a joint letter to the senior partners of the 515 firms which dealt with miners' compensation cases urging them to return to all clients any additional charges which they may have made in these cases.
	The Law Society has reported that it has referred 45 individual solicitors, from 10 firms, to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. To date the tribunal has not heard any of these cases.

British Coal Compensation: Solicitors

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will review the regulatory role of the Law Society, in view of the fact that it has been unable to take effective action against solicitors and claims farmers involved in double-charging in the British Coal compensation litigation.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The White Paper The Future of Legal Services: Putting Consumers First [Cm 6679], which was published on 17 October 2005, set out proposals for reforming the way legal services are regulated and delivered. These include provision for the creation of a strong and independent oversight regulator, the legal services board (LSB).
	Day-to-day regulation will be left to front line regulators (for example, the Law Society and the Bar Council) if they satisfy the LSB that they have appropriate governance arrangements in place. A range of controls and sanctions will be available to the LSB if front-line regulators breach its regulatory standards.
	Part 2 of the Compensation Bill (in the House of Lords) addresses the problems that consumers have experienced with claims handlers, and sets out a statutory framework for the regulation of claims management services. This will require claims management companies to abide by rules of conduct and a code of practice.

British Coal Compensation: Solicitors

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the withdrawal of one of the founder members of the solicitors' co-ordinating group in the British Coal respiratory disease litigation.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: This is a matter for the solicitors' co-ordinating group. Our interest is that the group remains representative of all the solicitors acting on behalf of claimants.

Building Regulations

Baroness Hanham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to publish the finalised approved documents for Part F (Ventilation) and Part L (Conservation of Energy and Power) of the building regulations.

Baroness Andrews: In a press release of 13 September 2005 the Government announced that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was introducing the changes to Part L of the building regulations two years early in April 2006. The new approved document F is linked to the changes to Part L. The ODPM intends to lay the statutory instrument and publish the new approved documents in sufficient time to allow this to happen.

Common Agricultural Policy

Lord Inglewood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of the total amount of common agricultural policy expenditure in the United Kingdom is returned to the Government as tax receipts derived from agriculture.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: In common with most sectors, the agricultural sector as a whole pays a wide range of taxes and benefits from a number of reliefs. A breakdown of tax revenue from the agricultural sector could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Drivers: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many drivers in Northern Ireland are aged (a) 76 to 80; (b) 81 to 85; (c) 86 to 90; (d) 91 to 95; (e) 96 to 100; and (f) 101 or over; and how many drivers in Northern Ireland are known to have a notifiable condition.

Lord Rooker: Details of the number of driving licences issued to persons aged over 75 are shown in the table below. There are a total of 15,832 driving licences issued to persons following medical investigations into notifiable conditions.
	
		Northern Ireland Driving Licences issued to persons aged over 75
		
			 Age of licence holder Number of licences issued 
			 76 to 80 20,603 
			 81 to 85 15,893 
			 86 to 90 3,139 
			 91 to 95 504 
			 96 to 100 38 
			 101 or over 2

Easter Rising: 90th Anniversary

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they will be represented at the 90th anniversary celebrations in Dublin of the Easter Rising of 1916 against United Kingdom rule in Ireland.

Lord Triesman: The Irish Government plan to invite representatives from the Diplomatic Corps in Dublin to attend the events to mark the 90th anniversary of the Easter Rising. Our ambassador to Ireland therefore plans to attend.

Energy: Comparative Costs

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 27 February (WA 11), what are the comparative costs per unit of power with respect to tidal lagoons; tidal stream; wave power; offshore wind; onshore wind; and new build nuclear.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: There is a range of estimates of the costs per unit of power from renewable technologies and nuclear generation.
	The 2003 energy White Paper published the results of extensive modelling of the costs of different options for reducing carbon dioxide emissions over the period to 2050. The analysis is available at www.dti.gov.uk/energy/whitepaper/phase2.pdf.
	There was also a Renewables Innovation Review in 2003 which produced modelling estimates of the costs of renewables generation technologies for the period to 2020. The analysis is available at www.dti.gov.uk/renewables/policy/oxeraresults.pdf.
	In November 2005 my right honourable friend the Prime Minister announced that there would be a review of energy policy which would report in summer 2006. This will involve further analysis of the costs of different options for meeting the Government's long-term targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, including electricity generation technologies.

Energy: Wind Turbines

Baroness Miller of Hendon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether their decision to refuse consent for the erection of 27 wind turbines at Whinash, Cumbria, reflects a change in their general policy; and, if so, whether they will indicate the nature of that change.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: There is no change in government policy. We remain firmly committed to renewable energy.
	The decision to refuse planning consent for the erection of 27 wind turbines at Whinash is entirely consistent with the Government's Planning Policy Statement 22 (PPS22). Set among the key principles of PPS22 is the need to take account of environmental impacts in terms of landscape and visual effects, which will vary on a case-by-case basis according to the type of development, its location and landscape setting.
	In the case of Whinash, my right honourable friend the Minister for Energy agreed with the inquiry inspector that the impacts on the landscape and recreational use of the site outweighed the benefits.

EU: Energy Supply

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether progress within the European Union to create a single market in energy supplies is satisfactory; and what further measures they will propose to the Council of Energy Ministers in this context.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: While progress is being made, obstacles to the development of a single energy market still remain and we welcome the reviews the Commission is currently undertaking into the functioning of the sector.
	While final conclusions are not due until the end of the year, the Commission recently reported that it had identified a number of areas of concern, including market concentration. It also announced that it will launch antitrust investigations shortly.
	When the Commission's reviews are completed, we expect it to propose measures that will enable the rapid development of a functioning internal market.
	We will continue to underline the importance of a competitive internal energy market to the EU at the Energy Council.

Firearms: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What the average length of time has been for an individual to wait for a firearm certificate to be issued since the introduction of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order (S.I. 2004/702) in February 2005.

Lord Rooker: The average length of time taken to process an application for a firearm certificate is not held on the licensing database. Research has shown that the length of time for processing applications has ranged from 10 weeks in February 2005, when the new legislation commenced, to a maximum of 23 weeks January 2006, when the volume of new and outstanding applications was at a peak. The current processing time for firearm certificate applications is 20 weeks.

Firearms: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many firearm certificates were issued by the Firearms and Explosives Branch of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in 2004 and 2005.

Lord Rooker: The chief constable has advised me that details of the number of firearm certificates issued in 2004 are not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost to public funds. A total of 20,074 firearm certificates were issued between 7 February 2005 and December 2005.

Gulf War Syndrome

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what dates they were informed of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal decisions in the cases of Gulf War veterans Daniel Martin, Mark McGreevy and Richard Hilling that "Gulf War syndrome" is the appropriate medical label to apply to conditions from which they suffer; when the decisions were implemented in each case; and what action they have now taken to make the decisions known to every veteran of the conflict who could be affected by the decisions.

Lord Drayson: The Pensions Appeal Tribunals did not find that Gulf War syndrome exists as a discrete medical condition in any of these cases. The decisions of the tribunals were received by the Ministry of Defence as follows: Mr Daniel Martin on 31 October 2005, Mr Mark McGreevy on 9 December 2005 and Mr Richard Hilling on 22 December 2005. The Veterans Agency issued an individual entitlement and assessment notification, which included the use of Gulf War syndrome as an umbrella term to cover accepted conditions which are caused by service and linked to the Gulf conflict, to Mr Daniel Martin and Mr Richard Hilling on 2 March 2006. Mr McGreevy's notification will be issued shortly. The backdating of any increase in the level of an award will be in accordance with the rules of the War Pension Scheme.
	There are no proposals to contact every veteran of the Gulf conflict concerning these decisions. Where individuals wish to have the umbrella term included in their own case, the agency will, on request, conduct a review and apply the term if it is considered appropriate. However, there can be no increase to the level of award as the term in itself does not attract a separate assessment and individuals will be, or have already been, compensated for any disablement due to their Gulf service.
	Ex-service organisations are aware of the Government's position with regard to the use of the umbrella term. My honourable friend the Minister for Veterans in his Statement of 24 November 2005 (Official Report, col. 129WS) explained how the term will be applied and that this matter has been debated in Parliament. The latest edition of the periodical Veterans World published by the Veterans Agency, which is widely circulated to ex-service organisations, advisory groups, MPs and the press, has also included a short article on the use of the term.

Immigration: Independent Monitor for Entry Clearance

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what date the former Independent Monitor for Entry Clearance, Ms Fiona Lindsley, submitted her final report; on what date it was placed before Ministers; and what are the reasons for the delay in placing the report before Parliament.

Lord Triesman: The Independent Monitor for Entry Clearance submitted the final version of her report to UKvisas on 23 January 2006. UKvisas has since studied the report closely and investigated each of the monitor's recommendations. UKvisas will submit the report to my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary within the next two weeks. A copy will be placed in the Library once it has been approved.

Immigration: Refusal of Entry Clearance

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures are in place to ensure that appeals by applicants from outside the United Kingdom against the refusal of entry clearance to the United Kingdom are heard and decided within a reasonable time; and what they consider to be a reasonable time.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: Entry clearance and family visitor appeals can be lodged either directly to the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) or with the relevant entry clearance post, in accordance with the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (Procedure) Rules 2005. If an application is lodged with the entry clearance post, it must be endorsed and forwarded to the AIT as soon as is reasonably practicable, and in any event within 10 days of receipt.
	The current timescales for hearing and deciding entry clearance appeals within the AIT must reflect the time provided in the tribunal's procedure rules for international transit of documents, in addition to the time the respondent has to prepare and file the appeal bundle with the tribunal. These timescales are set out in UK visas' diplomatic service procedures and have been agreed with the tribunal. In non-settlement and family visitor cases, 11 weeks are provided; in more complex settlement cases, the time allowed is 19 weeks.
	At the end of these periods, or if the respondent's bundle is received earlier, family visitor and non-settlement appeals are aimed to be listed within four weeks from the receipt of the appeal bundle with settlement cases listed within eight weeks from receipt.
	The AIT is currently working very closely with UK visas and the Home Office to introduce improvements to the entry clearance appeals process, aiming to reduce the overall time an appellant waits for their appeal to be heard by an average of seven weeks, mainly by removing the need for surplus document exchange to and from the embassy.

Iraq: Air Trooping Flights

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For the month of February, how many Royal Air Force air trooping flights leaving either Iraq or Kuwait were delayed by (a) between six and 12 hours; and (b) more than 48 hours; and
	For the month of February, how many Royal Air Force air trooping groups of passengers leaving either Iraq or Kuwait were delayed by (a) between six and 12 hours; (b) between 12 and 24 hours; and (c) between 24 and 48 hours.

Lord Drayson: There were two Royal Air Force trooping flight delays during the month of February that exceeded six hours. One flight was delayed for just over six hours and the other for over 30 hours. No flights were delayed for more than 48 hours.

Iraq: Military Casualties

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What guidance or advice was drawn up by the Ministry of Defence regarding the media handling of the death of the 100th British soldier in Iraq; and whether they will place a copy of this guidance in the Library.

Lord Drayson: No external guidance was issued by, or asked of, the Ministry of Defence on media handling of the death of the 100th British soldier in Iraq.

Iraq: Military Funerals

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make representations to the Government of the United States on the case for coalition heads of government attending military funerals in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Lord Drayson: Military funerals at public expense are conducted in accordance with Queen's Regulations, are unostentatious in character and the same for all ranks. The degree of ceremony at such a funeral is normally a matter for the next of kin in conjunction with the unit. It may range from the minimum of formality—for example, no more than the presence of a single representative of the deceased's unit—to full-scale military honours. Her Majesty's Government have no plans to make representations to the government of the United States on the case for coalition heads of government to attend military funerals.

Iraq: UK Armed Forces

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are able to monitor and assess the changes and trends in recent polls of Iraqi public opinion in favour of full early withdrawal of United Kingdom Armed Forces.

Lord Drayson: The Ministry of Defence monitors and assesses Iraqi opinion from a variety of in-house and external polling across a range of issues, including attitudes to the presence of UK forces. The purpose of this polling activity is to assess Iraqi opinions and the effectiveness of coalition and Iraqi government communications with the Iraqi population. Analysis of trends in opinion polling data permits HMG better to understand the priorities and concerns of ordinary Iraqis, and those factors which influence opinion towards the Iraqi political process, Iraqi security forces and the coalition.

Maldives

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place in the Library a copy of the report by the Commonwealth mission to the Maldives; and what steps they are taking to ensure that the Commonwealth Secretariat communicates any further suggestions regarding the proposed new constitution in writing to the opposition including the Maldives Democratic Party, with an invitation to comment.

Lord Triesman: We stand behind the ongoing efforts of the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Secretary-General's Special Envoy to take forward dialogue with and between the political parties in the Maldives on democratic and constitutional reform. We are not aware that the Commonwealth Secretariat is producing an open report on the recent mission to the Maldives.

Medicines: Animal Testing

Baroness Greenfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have considered including a statement on prescription pads or labelling to indicate that the prescribed medicine has been tested on animals; if so, what decision they have reached on this matter; and what were the reasons for such decision.

Lord Warner: The requirements for medicines labelling are set out in European and national legislation and this makes no provision in respect of information relating to animal testing. Discussions with the European Commission about the inclusion on labels of additional information of this kind, initiated by the United Kingdom Government, have been inconclusive. Member states could not agree on the value and impact of including such information.
	A generic statement on prescription forms would be inaccurate and misleading as not all prescription items have been tested on animals.

National Offender Management Service

Baroness Stern: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 1 March (WA 77), who are the members of the National Offender Management Service stakeholder forum.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The membership of the stakeholder forum is in the table attached below. We are reviewing how we engage our stakeholders to see whether we should make any changes to ensure good and constructive dialogue.
	Baroness Scotland, Minister of State for Criminal Justice and Offender Management;
	Fiona Mactaggart, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State;
	Helen Edwards, Acting Chief Executive of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS);
	Christine Knott, National Offender Manager;
	Paul Wiles, Chief Scientific Adviser and Director of Research, Development and Statistics (RDS) Home Office;
	Colin Moses, POA;
	Clive Martin, CLINKS;
	Ben Priestly, UNISON;
	Ian Poree, Electronic Data Services;
	Assistant Chief Constable Hilary Banks, ACPO;
	Professor Peter Raynor, Welsh Assembly Government;
	Bryony Rudkin, Local Government Association;
	Gareth Davies, Prison Governors Association;
	John Raine, Probation Boards Association;
	Sir Duncan Nichol, CBE Parole Board;
	Right honourable Sir Igor Judge, President of the Queen's Bench Division;
	Judy McKnight, National Association of Probation Officers;
	Mark Serwotka, Public and Commercial Services Union;
	Rod Morgan, Youth Justice Board;
	Herb Nahapiet, United Kingdom Detention Services;
	Lord Rosser, Non-Executive Director of the Prison Service Management Board.

Nepal

Lord Alderdice: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, given the current situation in Nepal, they plan to hold in the near future a follow-up to the 2002 London meeting sponsored by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Lord Triesman: We have no current plans to hold a follow-up to the 2002 London meeting. To be successful, such a meeting would require the participation of all the parties concerned. Regrettably, the current deadlock is such that we would be unlikely to get such participation. However, we remain committed to making every effort to seek a peaceful political solution in co-ordination with our key international partners. If an opportunity were to arise in the future that merited a follow-up conference, we would reconsider this option.

NHS: Coronary Care

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	With reference to the Department of Health's press release (2003/0363) announcing new investment in heart treatment facilities (a) how many new or replacement cardiac catheter laboratories are now in service; (b) how many are currently in the course of construction; (c) how many have yet to commence construction; and (d) what are the locations of the laboratories within each of these categories.

Lord Warner: Since 2001 additional and replacement cardiac catheter laboratories have been funded as part of the implementation of the national service framework through two main programmes:
	The Big Lottery Fund programme: an allocation of £125 million to fund 90 additional and replacement laboratories. This programme formally ended in December 2005.
	Treasury-funded cardiac capital programme: a national cardiac capital programme of some £600 million to achieve major capital developments—mainly in tertiary cardiac centres across the country. Capital developments generally include a range of facilities that may include catheter laboratories, cardiac theatres, critical care beds, ward beds and outpatients facilities.
	The summary position for catheter laboratories for each of the programmes is as follows.
	
		
			 Schemes which are: Big Lottery Fund Major Capital Programme Total—Both Programmes 
			 (a)   now in service (See Note A) 90 13 103 
			 (b)   currently in the course of 
			 construction 0 16 16 
			 (c)   yet to commence construction 0 18 18 
			 Total Catheter Laboratories 90 47 137 
		
	
	Note A: For some catheter laboratories construction is complete but the laboratories are still in the process of being commissioned.
	The location of the catheter laboratories in each of the programmes is set out in the following tables (Table 1 for the Big Lottery Fund programme, Table 2 for the Treasury-funded cardiac capital programme).
	
		Table 1—Big Lottery Fund—Cardiac Catheter Laboratories—now in service (for some construction is complete but they are still being commissioned)
		
			 Strategic Health Authority Trust Total 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			  Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust 1 
			  Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust 1 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Total  4  
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Bedford Hospital NHS Trust 1 
			  East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust 1 
			  West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Total  3  
			 Birmingham and the Black Country Birmingham Heartlands and Solihull NHS Trust 1 
			  Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust 2 
			  University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			  Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country Total  5  
			 Cheshire and Merseyside Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust Cardiothoracic Centre—Liverpool NHS Trust 1 
			  Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			  North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside Total  4  
			 County Durham and Tees Valley County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust 2 
			  North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust 1 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley Total  3  
			 Cumbria and Lancashire Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Healthcare NHS Trust 1 
			  Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHST 1 
			  Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire Total  3 
			 Essex Basildon and Thurrock University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			  Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust 1 
			  Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust 1 
			 Essex Total  3  
			 Greater Manchester Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospital NHS Trust 1 
			  Pennine Acute NHS Trust 2 
			  Stockport NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			  Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust 1 
			 Greater Manchester Total  5  
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			  Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight Total  2  
			 Kent and Medway East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			  The Medway NHS Trust 1 
			 Kent and Medway Total  2  
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust 1 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Total  1  
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			  Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			  The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust 1 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Total  3  
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 2 
			  Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			  York Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Total  4 
			 North East London Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust  
			  Barts and The London NHS Trust 1 
			  Bart's and The London NHS Trust 1 
			  Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust 3 
			 North East London Total  6  
			 North West London Ealing Hospital NHS Trust 1 
			  Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust 4 
			  St Mary's Hospital NHS Trust 2 
			 North West London Total  7  
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			  Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust 1 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Total  2  
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire Mid Staffordshire General Hospital NHS Trust 1 
			  University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust 1 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire Total  2  
			 Somerset and Dorset Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			  West Dorset General Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			 Somerset and Dorset Total  2  
			 South East London Guys and St Thomas's NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			  King's College Hospital NHS Trust 2 
			 South East London Total  3  
			 South West Peninsula Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			  Royal Devon and Exeter Healthcare NHS Trust 1 
			  South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust 1 
			 South West Peninsula Total  3  
			 South Yorkshire Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			  Rotherham General Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			  Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 South Yorkshire Total  3  
			 Surrey and Sussex East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust 2 
			  Frimley Park Hospital NHS Trust 1 
			  Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust 1 
			  The Royal West Sussex NHS Trust 1 
			  Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			 Surrey and Sussex Total  6  
			 Thames Valley Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			  Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospital NHS Trust 1 
			  Milton Keynes General Hospital NHS Trust 1 
			  Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			 Thames Valley Total  4  
			 Trent Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Royal Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			  Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust 1 
			  Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			  The United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			 Trent Total  4  
			 West Midlands South South Warwickshire General Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			  Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			 West Midlands South Total 2  
			 West Yorkshire Airedale NHS Trust 1 
			  The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			  The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 2 
			 West Yorkshire Total  4  
			 Grand Total  90 
		
	
	
		Table 2—Treasury funded cardiac capital programme—cardiac catheter laboratories—now in service, in course of construction and yet to commence construction
		
			 Current Position Strategic Health Authority Location Total 
			 Now in Service 
			  Birmingham & Black Country Wolverhampton 2 
			  County Durham & Tees Valley South Tees 1 
			  Dorset & Somerset Bournemouth 2 
			  Greater Manchester Central Manchester 1 
			  Kent & Medway Kent 1 
			  Leicester, Northants & Rutland Leicester 1 
			  Norfolk, Suffolk & Cambridgeshire Papworth Expansion 2 
			  Trent Nottingham City 2 
			  West Yorkshire Bradford 1 
			 Now in Service Total   13 
			In course of construction 
			  Cheshire & Merseyside Liverpool 1 
			  Cumbria & Lancashire Blackpool 2 
			  Essex Essex 3 
			  Hampshire & Isle of Wight Southampton 5 
			  Kent & Medway Kent 3 
			  South Yorkshire Sheffield 2 
			 In course of construction Total   16 
			Yet to Commence Construction   
			  Avon, Gloucestershire & Wiltshire Bristol 6 
			  Dorset & Somerset Taunton 1 
			  Greater Manchester South Manchester 1 
			  Leicester, Northants & Rutland Northampton 1 
			  NE Yorkshire & 
			  N Lincolnshire Hull Castlehill 2 
			  Northumberland Tyne & Weir Newcastle 2 
			  Thames Valley Oxford 4 
			  West Yorkshire Leeds 1 
			 Yet to Commence Construction Total   18  
			 TOTAL   47

NHS: Coronary Care

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many National Health Service patients are on a waiting list for a coronary angiography procedure in each strategic health authority area in England.

Lord Warner: The information requested is given in the following table.
	It was common for people to wait more than a year for this procedure in 1996–97. Now nobody waits more than six months and the average wait is eight to nine weeks.
	
		Number of people waiting for a coronary angiography procedure as at 31 January 2006
		
			  
			  Number Waiting 
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire HA 934 
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire HA 690 
			 Q03 Essex HA 1,069 
			 Q04 North West London HA 748 
			 Q05 North Central London HA 444 
			 Q06 North East London HA 720 
			 Q07 South East London HA 484 
			 Q08 South West London HA 407 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear HA 541 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley HA 230 
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern 
			 Lincolnshire HA 771 
			 Q12 West Yorkshire HA 494 
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire HA 602 
			 Q14 Greater Manchester HA 928 
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside HA 569 
			 Q16 Thames Valley HA 908 
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle Of Wight HA 831 
			 Q18 Kent and Medway HA 242 
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex HA 1,223 
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire HA 821 
			 Q21 South West Peninsula HA 1,134 
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset HA 477 
			 Q23 South Yorkshire HA 555 
			 Q24 Trent HA 430 
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland HA 813 
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire HA 477 
			 Q27 Birmingham and the Black Country HA 850 
			 Q28 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and 
			 Worcestershire HA 495  
			 Total 18,887

NHS: Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin

Lord Harris of Haringey: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will continue to ensure that National Health Service professionals receive the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin.

Lord Warner: I refer my noble friend to the reply I gave on 6 February 2006 at cols. 416–18.

Northern Ireland National Stadium

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will fund a national stadium for Northern Ireland on any site agreed by the appropriate sporting bodies.

Lord Rooker: The three sporting bodies invited to participate in a multi-sports stadium for Northern Ireland (the Irish Football Association, the Ulster branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union and the Gaelic Athletic Association) have agreed in principle to the Government's proposal to establish a stadium at the Maze/Long Kesh. No other site is being considered. Should the Government decide to proceed with and fund a multi-sports stadium, it will only be at the Maze/Long Kesh.

Passports

Lord Stevens of Ludgate: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why United Kingdom passports are swiped at some, but not all, points of entry into the United Kingdom.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Immigration officers at UK ports of entry now handle all British and EU/EEA passports in order to assess whether the person is the rightful holder and the document is genuine. Unless local risk assessments indicate otherwise, all EU/EEA passports are checked against the IND database. All non-EEA nationals are checked against the IND database and examined by an immigration officer in accordance with the Immigration Acts.

Pensions

Lord Stevens of Ludgate: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to issue exemption forms for enhanced protection and primary protection for pension funds.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: Individuals will be able to register for enhanced or primary protection from 6 April until 5 April 2009. Registration forms should be available on the HMRC website at www.hmrc.gov.uk from 13 March 2006.

Post Office Card Account

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they have received from the Commission for Rural Communities in response to the announcement by the Department for Work and Pensions that they intend to withdraw support for the Post Office card account when the existing contract expires in 2010.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The chairman and rural advocate of the Commission for Rural Communities wrote to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on 14 February 2006 raising a number of points about the future of the Post Office card account.
	This letter was also copied to Ministers in the Department for Trade and Industry and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Prisoners: Women

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many women prisoners there were in England and Wales on 31 December of each year from 2001 to 2005; and
	How many women prisoners in England and Wales there were on 31 January and 28 February 2006.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The table, from the Prison Service IT system, provides figures on the numbers of females in prison establishments in England and Wales on 31 December each year between 2001 and 2005, and on 31 January and 24 February 2006. Confirmed population figures for 28 February 2006 are not yet available.
	
		Table: Number of female prisoners in prison establishments, England and Wales
		
			  Number 
			 31/12/2001 3,871 
			 31/12/2002 4,077 
			 31/12/2003 4,198 
			 31/12/2004 4,123 
			 31/12/2005 4,223 
			 31/01/2005 4,384 
			 24/02/2006 4,415

Railways: Bicester, Bletchley and Aylesbury

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any reinstatement of the rail tracks between Bicester, Bletchley and Aylesbury would require an application under the Transport and Works Act 1992.

Lord Davies of Oldham: It is for the promoters of a railway project to consider whether they need to apply to the Secretary of State for new statutory powers for their scheme by way of an order under the Transport and Works Act.

Railways: Driver-only Trains

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What would be the cost of introducing driver-only train operation on the South West Trains franchise in terms of (a) station installation; and (b) equipment in trains; and
	What was the cost of removing the driver-only equipment from the Desiro trains currently used on routes in the south west of London.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The department has made no assessment of the cost of driver-only train operation on South West Trains.
	South West Trains has not removed driver-only equipment from Desiro trains. Driver-only equipment was not specified to be fitted to these trains.

Royal Navy: Vessels

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many Royal Navy vessels are at present preserved; and at which ports or places they are moored or stored.

Lord Drayson: At present, 30 former Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels are being preserved or stored pending disposal or planned conversion for re-use. A total of 16 surface ships are held at Portsmouth and one is berthed in Southampton, while six nuclear powered submarines are stored safely afloat at Devonport (Plymouth) and seven at Rosyth. In addition, HMS "Invincible" has been placed in extended readiness and is in preservation at Portsmouth.

Schools: Belfast

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the total number of primary schools in the Belfast area; and how many of these are located in Northern Ireland housing executive development areas.

Lord Rooker: The number of primary schools and preparatory departments in the Belfast area is 97. I am unaware of the term housing executive development areas, and if the noble Lord will be more specific I will endeavour to provide the information he is seeking.

Schools: Belfast

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many children living in Belfast and attending voluntary grammar schools received free school meals in (a) 1995; (b) 1999; (c) 2003; and (d) the most recent year for which figures are available; and
	How many children living in Belfast and attending Catholic secondary schools received free school meals in (a) 1995; (b) 1999; (c) 2003; and (d) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Lord Rooker: Some of the information requested is not available in the required format. However, the number of children attending Roman Catholic secondary (non-grammar) schools and voluntary grammar schools in the Belfast Education and Library Board area who received free school meals was:
	
		
			  Roman Catholic Secondary (Non-Grammar) Voluntary Grammar 
			 1995 Not available 524 
			 1999 3,386 623 
			 2003 3,468 723 
			 2004 3,477 761 
		
	
	Note: Figures for Roman Catholic secondary (non-grammar) schools in 1995 are not available. Most recent figures held are for 2004.

Sport: Gambling

Lord Pendry: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many memorandums of understanding (MOUs) have been signed by sports authorities with United Kingdom betting exchanges; which sports authorities have agreed MOUs; and what discussions they have had with the professional player associations on betting in sport.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government do not hold information relating to individual betting exchanges centrally. However, I am aware that the UK-licensed Betfair, which is the world's largest betting exchange, holds memoranda of understanding with the following sporting bodies:
	The Jockey Club;
	The ATP (men's professional tennis tour);
	The Darts Regulatory Authority;
	The ICC (International Cricket Council);
	The English FA;
	Cricket Australia;
	The Jockey Club (South Africa);
	The Rugby Football League;
	UEFA;
	The National Greyhound Racing Club;
	The Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau (US racing);
	The International Tennis Federation;
	The Grand Slam Committee;
	The Lawn Tennis Association;
	The Women's Tennis Association;
	The Australian Football League;
	The Rugby Football Union;
	The British Darts Organisation;
	The Belgian Football Association.
	The Government believe that safeguarding the integrity of sports is a shared responsibility between government, sports regulators and betting businesses themselves. To this end, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has initiated discussions between sporting authorities and all betting operators to implement a code of practice aimed at assisting sporting authorities to protect the integrity of their sport.
	A conference has been arranged for 19 April 2006 to consider the code and wider integrity issues associated with sports betting. Richard Caborn, Minister for Sport, will address this conference.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in February concerning asylum seekers and internally displaced people form Darfur; and whether they endorse the four recommendations contained in this statement.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The UNHCR position paper on asylum seekers from Darfur issued in February 2006 sets out the general security, humanitarian and human rights situation in Darfur and for Darfuris living elsewhere in Sudan. The UNHCR recommends that: non-Arab ethnic Darfuris are granted refugee status; some form of subsidiary protection is granted to those not granted refugee status; particular attention is paid to vulnerable groups such as female heads of household, medical cases or victims of past persecution; and that the Article 1(F) exclusion clause may be applied in individual cases. The UNHCR's position paper provides a broad assessment of the situation in Darfur and Sudan more generally and we do not dispute that it presents an accurate overview of the general humanitarian situation and the serious social and security problems inherent in Sudan. However, asylum and human rights claims are not decided on the basis of the general situation—they are based on the circumstances of the particular individual and the risk to that individual. Every effort is made to establish each individual applicant's personal circumstances and full basis of claim before a final decision is made. We agree that particular attention should be paid to claims from vulnerable groups of Darfuris and that the Article 1(F) exclusion clause should be applied in appropriate cases. However, we do not accept the UNHCR's recommendations, based on its overview of the general situation, that all claimants who present themselves as non-Arab ethnic Darfuris should, irrespective of their individual circumstances, automatically receive some form of protection.

Taxation

Lord Forsyth of Drumlean: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McKenzie of Luton on 9 February (WA 123), what information they hold on the cost of external advice received in connection with taxation amounts which are in dispute.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: HMRC keep records of the costs of external legal and any other advice received by the department. These cover advice given for taxation and other matters, only some of which will be for taxation in dispute.

Terrorism: Definition

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have agreed a standard definition of a terrorist; and, if so, what is that definition.

Lord Rooker: The noble Lord, Lord Carlile, the independent reviewer of the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005, is currently undertaking a review of the definition of terrorism. The noble Lord may wish to refer to Part 1, Section 1, of the Terrorism Act 2000—"Terrorism: Interpretation".

Transport: Road Haulage

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What studies they have undertaken to establish the effectiveness and value for money of the Road Haulage Modernisation Fund; and what evidence they have that the recipients of money from the fund would not have made the efficiencies themselves as part of their commercial policies.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Department for Transport (DfT) published a review of the 11 elements of the Road Haulage Modernisation Fund 24 March 2004. This established the effectiveness of the different projects and provided the evidence for an extension to some. A detailed report of the safe and fuel-efficient driving (SAFED) programme was published on 9 November 2005 detailing its achievements.
	Each project had to demonstrate additionality at the outset. Companies participating in the freight best practice programme have achieved fuel savings of 6.2 per cent against 1.6 per cent by non-participating companies. All the reports are available on the DfT website.

Travel Passes: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of senior citizens in each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland has taken up Translink smart cards since their introduction in May 2002.

Lord Rooker: The information is not readily available in the form requested. Senior SmartPasses were first issued by the Department for Regional Development in March 2002 and became operational in May 2002. Although the number issued is known, there is no record of the number of former passholders who are now deceased. The table below sets out the number of passes issued by constituency where this is known and the number of people aged 65 and over in each constituency.
	
		
			 Constituency Number of SmartPasses in circulation* Population 65and over**(June 2004) 
			 Belfast East 13,604 14,981 
			 Belfast North 12,840 14,290 
			 Belfast South 11,856 13,111 
			 Belfast West 9,249 10,445 
			 East Antrim 10,886 12,038 
			 East Londonderry 9,421 12,122 
			 Fermanagh and South Tyrone 8433 13,119 
			 Foyle 9,157 11,077 
			 Lagan Valley 12,228 13,936 
			 Mid Ulster 6,575 10,344 
			 Newry and Armagh 9,556 12,883 
			 North Antrim 11,082 15,537 
			 North Down 13,306 14,766 
			 South Antrim 10,880 12,710 
			 South Down 10,517 13,716 
			 Strangford 11,852 74,113 
			 Upper Bann 11,742 13,701 
			 West Tyrone 7,294 10,524 
			 Unknown constituency: incomplete postcode details available. 766  
			 Totals 19,1244 233,413 
		
	
	* These figures include SmartPasses issued to individuals who may now be deceased.
	** Mid-year population estimates Northern Ireland 2004 Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

Vehicles: Biodiesel

Viscount Eccles: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of the current production cost of a litre of conventional diesel fuel suitable for use in motor vehicles consists of excise duty; and what is the total production cost per litre; and
	What proportion of the current production cost of a litre of biodiesel consists of excise duty; and what is the total production cost per litre.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: Historical fuel prices can be found in Quarterly Energy Prices published by the Department of Trade and Industry and available on the DTI website at www.dti.gov.uk/energy/inform/energy—prices/index.shtml. Historical fuel duty rates can be found in Hydrocarbon Oils Bulletin published by HM Revenue and Customs and available on UK Trade Info Website at www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=statindex.
	The Government do not have data on the actual retail price or production cost of biodiesel as these will vary between producers and depend on methods of production.